Jameis Winston believes that Florida State has the best offensive line in the country.

The unit that plays in front of the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback returns four of five starters from Florida State's undefeated national championship team. All five of the projected starters are seniors, with left tackle Cameron Erving, left guard Josue Matias and right guard Tre' Jackson each receiving preseason All-American honors.

Proving to be one of the best run-blocking teams in the nation, FSU averaged 5.6 yards-per-carry each of the last two seasons. That ranked them in the top-10 among Football Bowl Subdivision teams in 2013 and No. 4 overall during the 2012 season.

So it is hard to discredit Winston's claim.

"Well, our offensive line is the best offensive line in the country," the sophomore star proclaimed earlier this week at the ACC Kickoff, "and I repeat that Florida State's offensive line is the best offensive line in the country."

Even with former FSU center Bryan Stork beginning his NFL career, senior Austin Barron has five career starts at the position.

The experience and success of the Seminoles' line each of the last two seasons drastically changes expectations from what they were just three years ago when projected starters like right tackle Bobby Hart, Barron, Matias and Jackson were thrust into the FSU's depleted starting lineup as freshmen.

During the 2011 season the Seminoles' abysmal 3.3 yards-per-carry ranked 105th of the 120 FBS teams.

And now, entering their senior season, many of the same guys are part of an offensive line that is in the discussion for one of the best in the country.

"Of course there's going to be a lot of hype through the media, but as a team we try to block that out and just go out there, put our nose down and just work," said Erving, who was named a first team All-American by multiple publications in 2013. "You don't think about those things, because that's where you mess up and that's when you start to waiver and you don't have the success that you want to have. I'm just trying to stay focused and just keep that tunnel vision."

While Matias, Jackson, Hart and Barron all started on FSU's offensive line in the Champs Sports Bowl during the Seminoles' 2011 season, Erving was a defensive tackle who was used as a reserve throughout that season.

It wasn't until the spring of 2012 that the 6-foot-6, 308-pound lineman decided to listen to head coach Jimbo Fisher, who suggested that he move to offense.

"Since I made that decision, I feel like my life has gone in a different direction," Erving said. "I feel like I could've had success on defense, but you have to trust the staff and Coach Fisher and (offensive line) coach (Rick) Trickett, they knew what they were talking about. It's been a great choice for me and I can't imagine being anywhere else right now."

Entering his third season on offense, the athletic lineman sees multiple areas where he can improve. This year the fifth-year senior's main goal is to rely less on his natural ability and depend more on his technique.

"Guys like Cameron Erving from Florida State, I have a lot of respect for him," said Clemson defensive end Vic Beasley, who was a consensus All-American in 2013. "He was one of my toughest match-ups last year."

Rushing for an absurd 11.5 yards-per-carry en route to a 59-3 thumping of Syracuse in 2013, the play of the Seminoles' offensive front caught the eye of Scott Shafer.

"That Florida State offensive line last year was as good as I've seen, not just in the pass game, giving Jameis an opportunity to sit back there and pick you apart, but in the run game," the head coach of the Orange said. "They want to bring people and pull then and run zone, run outside zone get to the second level like that. They're as good as I've seen in a long time."

While FSU's reserves saw plenty of action in games like their 56-point win over Syracuse, the unit also added depth in the offseason, signing seven offensive linemen that are each at least 6-foot-5. The average weight of the new additions is 312 pounds, with just two of the seven players weighing less than 300 pounds.

"One thing with coach Trickett, our offensive line is never going to be slacking," Winston said. "I'll tell you that right now, because they're the hardest working group that we've got on our team. ... Our offensive line works so hard, and that's why I'm confident to say that we have the best offensive line in the country."

Added Fisher in response to his quarterback's statement: "We've had our share and we had to play all those guys as freshman. I remember that was tough, too. But I think it is.

"When you have those guys in the trenches on the offensive and defensive lines, it makes the game much easier and we have tons of experience, athleticism, and ability, and knowledge. So I mean, I think that will be a tremendous advantage for us this year."

As the unit has gone from the least impressive and least experienced groups on FSU's team, to the most experienced bunch and the backbone of the reigning national champions, the growth of the Seminoles' O-line has completely changed the expectation from what it was three years ago.

"I'm definitely really excited but, with all this hype there comes a lot of responsibility," Erving said. "You don't want to be that team that has all this talent and comes out and doesn't show it. It's a lot of pressure, but at the same time, I don't really think of it as pressure. A lot of people may, but I think of it as just another challenge."